While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes: While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes: In 2022, University of Miami researchers discovered brine pools in the Gulf of Aqaba. A brine pool is an underwater lake that sits on the ocean floor. The water in brine pools is three to eight times saltier than the surrounding ocean. The extreme saltiness of this water makes it toxic to most sea life. Some forms of bacteria are able to survive in brine pools.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:While researching a topic, a student has taken the following...

GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions

Source: Practice Test

Expression of Ideas

Rhetorical Synthesis

MEDIUM

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Notes

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While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

In 2022, University of Miami researchers discovered brine pools in the Gulf of Aqaba.
A brine pool is an underwater lake that sits on the ocean floor.
The water in brine pools is three to eight times saltier than the surrounding ocean.
The extreme saltiness of this water makes it toxic to most sea life.
Some forms of bacteria are able to survive in brine pools.

The student wants to explain why brine pools are toxic to most sea life. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

Though brine pools are toxic to most sea life, some bacteria can survive there.

The water in brine pools is toxic to most sea life because it is three to eight times saltier than the surrounding ocean.

The brine pools in the Gulf of Aqaba are toxic to most sea life and were discovered by researchers in 2022.

Brine pools are salty underwater lakes that sit on the ocean floor.

Solution

Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage

Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table

Text from Passage	Analysis
'In 2022, University of Miami researchers discovered brine pools in the Gulf of Aqaba.'	What it says: 2022, U Miami researchers found brine pools in Gulf of Aqaba What it does: Introduces when and where brine pools were discovered What it is: Context/background information
'A brine pool is an underwater lake that sits on the ocean floor.'	What it says: brine pool = underwater lake on ocean floor What it does: Provides definition of what brine pools are What it is: Definition
'The water in brine pools is three to eight times saltier than the surrounding ocean.'	What it says: brine pool water = 3-8x saltier than regular ocean What it does: Explains key characteristic that distinguishes brine pools What it is: Descriptive detail
'The extreme saltiness of this water makes it toxic to most sea life.'	What it says: extreme saltiness → toxic to most sea life What it does: Establishes causal relationship between saltiness and toxicity What it is: Causal explanation
'Some forms of bacteria are able to survive in brine pools.'	What it says: some bacteria can survive there What it does: Contrasts with previous statement by noting exceptions What it is: Contrasting information/exception

Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements

Main Point: Brine pools are underwater formations with extremely salty water that makes them toxic to most sea life, though some bacteria can survive there.

Argument Flow: The notes start with discovery context, define what brine pools are, identify their key distinguishing feature (extreme saltiness), establish how this feature causes toxicity to most sea life, and end with an exception noting that some bacteria can survive despite the toxicity.

Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely

What's being asked? The student wants to explain WHY brine pools are toxic to most sea life - they need a causal explanation.

What type of answer do we need? A statement that uses relevant information from the notes to provide the reason/cause for the toxicity.

Any limiting keywords? 'most effectively uses relevant information' - so we need to pick the choice that best utilizes the provided research notes to accomplish the explanatory goal.

Step 3: Prethink the Answer

Looking at our notes, the key causal relationship is established in the fourth bullet point: 'extreme saltiness → toxic to most sea life.'
The third bullet point gives us the specific measurement: '3-8x saltier than regular ocean.'
So the right answer should:
- Connect the saltiness directly to the toxicity (cause and effect)
- Use the specific quantitative information about how much saltier (3-8 times)
- Focus on explaining WHY they're toxic rather than just stating that they are toxic

Answer Choices Explained

Though brine pools are toxic to most sea life, some bacteria can survive there.

✗ Incorrect

This choice acknowledges that brine pools are toxic but immediately shifts focus to bacteria that can survive
Doesn't explain WHY they're toxic - it just states they are toxic and moves on

The water in brine pools is toxic to most sea life because it is three to eight times saltier than the surrounding ocean.

✓ Correct

Directly establishes the cause-and-effect relationship: toxic BECAUSE of extreme saltiness
Uses the specific quantitative detail from the notes (3-8 times saltier)
Perfectly matches our prethinking by explaining the 'why' behind the toxicity

The brine pools in the Gulf of Aqaba are toxic to most sea life and were discovered by researchers in 2022.

✗ Incorrect

States that brine pools are toxic but focuses on location and discovery date
Completely ignores the saltiness explanation that actually causes the toxicity

Brine pools are salty underwater lakes that sit on the ocean floor.

✗ Incorrect

Only provides a basic definition of what brine pools are
Doesn't mention toxicity at all, let alone explain why they're toxic

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